Apology for poor sound at festival

Organisers of Gisborne's Rhythm & Vines have apologised
to ticket holders after damaged equipment made for poor sound
quality on the first night of the three-day festival.

The sound equipment was damaged when a 16-wheeler truck it
was in went off the road near Opotiki on Friday.

The damage was initially reported as minimal, and festival
spokeswoman Sara Cairney assured patrons that in a worst-case
scenario situation back-up equipment may need to be taken
from other stages.

After first reporting a successful first night which left
crowds smiling and "massively hyped" last night, organisers
later issued an apology for poor quality sound in the main
arena.

"We pride ourselves on our production, but this crash was
obviously unexpected. To plan and prepare a system of the
calibre needed for an audience or the size of R&V
requires days of meticulous work, not hours," Ms Cairney
said.

Organisers were in the process of bringing in more equipment,
although availability was limited over the New Year period.

The festival's head system technician had worked throughout
the evening to configure a hastily assembled replacement
system, but was unhappy with the result, they said.

Ms Cairney assured patrons their technical team had a
solution that would "considerably" enhance sound quality for
the festival's second night.

UK producer and DJ Mark Ronson and electronic duo Chase &
Status are among the artists due to take to the stage
tonight.